PRESIDENT’S COMMITTEE ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES PARTNERS WITH GEORGE RODRIGUE FOUNDATION OF THE ARTS TO EXPAND TURNAROUND ARTS INTO THREE SCHOOLS IN LOUISIANA
Alfre Woodard and Trombone Shorty will adopt Louisiana Turnaround Schools
Washington, D.C. – President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) co-chairs George Stevens Jr. and Margo Lion today announced the expansion of PCAH’s successful Turnaround Arts initiative – a program designed to help turn around low-performing schools, narrow the achievement gap, and increase student engagement through the arts. The program is expanding in 6 states this year, including three Louisiana schools. The Committee also announced that Turnaround Artists Alfre Woodard and Trombone Shorty will “adopt” Louisiana Turnaround Arts schools and work directly with students to support their arts education.
The White House, Washington D.C. May 20, 2014 Kim Leavitt (Deputy Director, Louisiana A+ Schools), Jane Brown and Janice Williams (Homer Elementary), Joan Riley (Homer Plessy Charter), Bethany France (Director, Louisiana A+ Schools), Kelli Joseph (St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy), Jacques Rodrigue (Executive Director, George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts)
Turnaround Arts is funded through a public-private partnership, receiving more than $5 million over the next three years from the U.S. Department of Education, the National Endowment of the Arts, the Ford Foundation, and other private foundations and companies to bring arts education into low-performing schools. Local program partners will provide an additional $12 million to hire new arts and music teachers; bring teaching artists, art supplies and music instruments into schools; and support arts integration into other core subject areas such as reading, math and science.
First Lady Michelle Obama, Honorary Chair of the President’s Committee, said, “The Turnaround Arts program has exceeded not just our expectations, but our wildest hopes and dreams. With the help of this program and some School Improvement Grants, math and reading scores have gone up in these schools… attendance is up, enrollment is up…parent engagement is up… suspensions have plummeted…and two of the schools in our pilot improved so dramatically that they are no longer in turnaround status. And today, the students in these schools are engaged in their education like never before.”
In Louisiana, The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts will be the local program partner for Turnaround Arts, working directly in schools in New Orleans, Greensburg, and Homer Louisiana. It will be implemented through Louisiana A+ Schools, an initiative of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, which is a research-based whole school program with a mission of nurturing creativity in every learner through an arts-integrated school network. Schools selected for the Turnaround Arts: the Louisiana program includes Homer. A Plessy Community School in New Orleans, St. Helena Arts and Technology Academy in Greensburg, and Homer Elementary School in Homer. Selected schools will receive arts education training and resources to address their individual needs. Resources include arts supplies, music instruments, teacher training, and funding for partnerships with community arts education and cultural organizations. High-profile artists will also “adopt” Turnaround Arts schools for the length of the program, working with students, schools and communities to highlight their success.
“The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts is happy to announce the addition of these three schools into our Louisiana A+ Schools network, expanding our reach ensure access to high-quality arts-integrated learning for all students” said Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. “This initiative began before Dad [Artist George Rodrigue] got sick and my family and I are excited to form new partnerships so that we can continue to improve schools in the state that Dad loved so much. This investment from the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities is a major step forward for our organization as we prove that a holistic whole-school approach to arts-integration directly impacts student academic achievement and school environment.”
Alfre Woodard, one of two Turnaround Artists adopting Louisiana schools, shared, "My work with Turnaround Arts has been tremendously rewarding. I've loved every moment of getting to know these deserving kids and their dedicated teachers and principals. All you have to do is walk in to one of our schools and you can see, hear, and feel the transformation taking place.....the positive energy in the halls, the focus of the teachers and the students in class, the light in a kid's face as he or she finds his or her voice. This sense of purpose is what is turning these schools around. I am honored to be part of it."
In May 2012, the President’s Committee, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Domestic Policy Council, launched Turnaround Arts as a pilot program in eight “turnaround schools” across the country—public schools in the lowest-achieving five percent of their state that are receiving School Improvement Grants through the U.S. Department of Education. Over the last two years, Turnaround Arts has brought intensive arts education resources and expertise into the pilot schools and worked with school leadership to incorporate the arts a part of their reform strategy. Interim evaluation results show that participating schools are demonstrating improved academic performance, increased student and parent engagement and improved culture and climate.
“We are proud of the progress Turnaround Arts schools have made so far and thrilled to be able to expand the program into more schools across the country,” said PCAH Vice-Chair Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D. “Thanks to the hard work of our artists, program partners and school educators, we have been able to demonstrate that high quality arts education can positively change young lives and turn around failing schools.”
The expanded program will be working in 35 schools in districts in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon and Washington D.C., with plans to expand to up to 60 schools across the country. Studies show that when students participate in the arts they are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, have higher GPA/SAT scores, are more engaged and cooperative with teachers and peers, and are more self-confident and better able to express their ideas. These benefits are particularly pronounced in high-poverty, low-performing schools.
Louisiana Turnaround Artists join other artists across the country who have committed to work in Turnaround Arts schools. These include Chad Smith, Clarence Greenwood (aka Citizen Cope), Doc Shaw, Elizabeth Banks, Elton John, Frank Gehry, Jason Mraz, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Josh Groban, Marc Anthony, Rashida Jones, Russell Simmons, the Silk Road Ensemble, and Tim Robbins. These artists join PCAH members who are currently working with the program, including Chuck Close, Damian Woetzel, Forest Whitaker, John Lloyd Young, Kal Penn, Kerry James Marshall, Kerry Washington, Sarah Jessica Parker and Yo-Yo Ma.
National partners in Turnaround Arts include the U.S. Department of Education, National Endowment for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, the Herb Alpert Foundation, the Rosenthal Family Foundation, the Keith Haring Foundation, Crayola LLC, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation and Music Theater International. The program is administered in partnership with Americans for the Arts. Local program partners include: Academy of Urban School Leadership, Chicago, IL; Boston Public Schools, Boston, MA; CREATE CA, Los Angeles, CA; Des Moines Public Schools, Des Moines, IA; George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA; and Perpich Center for Arts Education, Minneapolis, MN.
Participating schools were competitively selected by program partners according to national guidelines. Selection criteria included demonstrated need and opportunity, strong school leadership with district support and a commitment to arts education. Turnaround Arts schools represent elementary and middle schools from across the country and encompass a diversity of student demographics and urban and rural settings. In Louisiana, they are:
1. Homer A. Plessy Community School, New Orleans
2. St. Helena Arts and Technology Academy, Greensburg
3. Homer Elementary School, Homer
For more information and a complete list of Turnaround Arts schools in the U.S., please visit http://turnaroundarts.pcah.gov/
About the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
Created in 1982 under President Reagan, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) is an advisory committee to the White House on cultural issues. The PCAH works directly with the three primary cultural agencies—National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services—as well as other federal partners and the private sector, to address policy questions in the arts and humanities, to initiate and support key programs in those disciplines and to recognize excellence in the field. Its core areas of focus are education, cultural exchange, and creative economy. Under the leadership of the First Lady and Honorary Chairman, and through the efforts of its federal and private members, the President’s Committee has compiled an impressive legacy over its tenure, conducting major research and policy analysis, and catalyzing important federal cultural programs, both domestic and international. For more information, please visit http://www.pcah.gov/.
On April 25th, GRFA unveiled a new poster at Audubon Nature Institute's Zoo-To-Doo for Kids, a family-friendly event with special activities for kids. This new poster, in partnership with Audubon, features the artwork of Audrey Marsh, winner of this year's art contest. Audrey's poster comes in three colors and is available online for $19.99 at www.auduboninstitute.org. Proceeds from all sales benefit Audubon Nature Institute and GRFA.
Pictured, student artist Audrey Marsh poses with GRFA's new poster at Audubon Zoo.
The poster is available in three colors: pink, blue, and yellow.
GRFA volunteers and Louisiana A+ Fellow Natalie Istre were also at the Zoo to share STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects with families. We had a great time getting creative at Zoo-To-Do for Kids!
Pictured, GRFA volunteers create STEAM projects with children.
Four days later in Lafayette, St. Thomas More High School hosted a special book signing for GRFA's The Pot & The Palette Cookbook. Several of the school's students have artwork featured in this publication, and they were there to add their signatures to all copies sold. Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue, an alum of St. Thomas More, was also on hand to share stories about this award-winning cookbook.
St. Thomas More student artists sign copies of The Pot & The Palette Cookbook.
This past weekend, Louisiana A+ Fellows gathered at the R. W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport for a Spring retreat. Visit the Louisiana A+ news page to read about how this group of educators is making plans for the coming school year.
LAA+ Fellows have breakout sessions within the galleries of the R. W. Norton Art Gallery.
On April 22, 2014, the annual Louisiana Culture Awards were held at the Capital Park Museum in Baton Rouge. Part of the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development’s Culture Connection, this awards ceremony honored individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the state’s historic, artistic, and cultural legacies.
This year’s Art Education Award recipient was Henry Price of Shreveport, who was instrumental in the founding of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts’ Louisiana A+ Schools Program. His commitment to establishing visual arts and music instruction as part of core curricula is evident in his professional and leadership positions. He is the arts supervisor for Caddo Parish Schools, president of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, and a member of many boards in Shreveport and northwest Louisiana.
Pictured, (Left) Chairman of the Louisiana State Arts Council, Michael Echols, (Center) Henry Price, (Right) Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne
Please join us in congratulating Henry Price for this tremendous award! It’s because of passionate individuals like him that Louisiana A+ Schools can continue to nurture creativity in every student through an arts-integrated school network.
Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, was also in attendance to present the newly-created George Rodrigue Lifetime Cultural Achievement Award to Sue Turner of Baton Rouge. A philanthropist and community activist, Sue has worked to preserve historical sites and the arts of Louisiana through leadership positions and contributions to numerous organizations across the state.
Pictured, (Left) Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, Jacques Rodrigue, (Center) Sue turner, (Right) Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne
This year’s French Quarter Festival boasted a record-breaking
attendance of 733,000, making it the largest free music festival in the
country.GRFA, in partnership with
title sponsor Chevron, was there to provide unique art making experiences at
the STE(A+)M Zone (science, technology, engineering, art, and math).
With projects designed to inspire scientific inquiry and
creativity, GRFA welcomed over 3,000 visitors!Activities included:
Activity 1:Gak
Attack
Is it a solid? A liquid? Just what is this squishy stuff?All kids love slime! This fun science
experiment allows kids to create their own “gak” while learning about primary
colors and the science of color mixing.
Activity 2:Fabulous
Frogs
Over 20 varieties of frogs call Louisiana home!Through this creative printmaking
project, kids learn about the unique anatomy and habitat of these amazing
amphibians. From powerful legs to lightning fast tongues, the marvelous features
of frogs and the animal kingdom are investigated.
Thank you to Chevron and everyone who stopped by to do an activity with us! We had a great time this year at the Chevron STE(A+)M Zone and
look forward to sharing engaging projects at next year’s French Quarter
Festival!
On March 14, 2014, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts held its first ever Aioli Dinner Fundraiser in Monterey, California. John and Cheryl Pisto, owners of the Whaling Station, hosted thirty couples in their home and the event raised $15,000 for GRFA education programming that will be tied into the Rodrigue Memorial Retrospective now on view in Carmel, CA.
This first ever fundraiser of its kind re-created George Rodrigue's most famous non-Blue Dog painting from 1971. It was Rodrigue's first painting with people and guests to this fundraiser were asked to wear black pants, white shirts and black ties.
The original Aioli Dinner painting above depicts a group of Cajun men who gathered in South Louisiana in the early 1900's and was named for the aioli, garlic mayonaisse sauce, that they used with their cooking.
Rodrigue used the above photograph as the inspiration for the painting and you can learn more about the painting in Wendy Rodrigue's Musings of An Artist's Wife blog.
Thank you to all of our California friends that hosted and created the event! We are forever indebted to Jayne and Rich Brinton, Steve and Vel Cox, Neil Shapiro, Saundra Meyrose, Tony and Barbara Ricciardi, Myles and Rhonda Williams and all of George's friends from the Carmel area.
Also at the event was George's two sons, Andre and Jacques, as well as Jacques' new wife, artist Mallory Page Rodrigue.
John Pisto not only hosted the event, but, the entire dinner was filmed and will be featured on his upcoming local television show.
Visit the Whaling Station's website to view more photos from the event. Thank you everyone for your support and be on the lookout for similar Aioli Dinner Fundraisers in your area!
Thanks to all the students who entered the Scholarship Art Contest this year!
Over 700 students from around Louisiana entered the contest (our most entries to date). Due to the volume of entries and tie-breakers, GRFA will award sixteen (16) seniors and five (5) juniors a total of $50,000 in college scholarships! Click below to learn more!
The Pot & The Palette wins Best Illustrated Cookbook in America and is one of seven finalists for Best Illustrated Cookbook in the world.
Gourmand Magazine, the International Cookbook Revue based in Madrid, Spain, recently announced that our cookbook, The Pot & The Palette, is in the running to be named Best Illustrated for 2013! The award winner will be announced at the World Cookbook Awards Ceremony in Beijing, China, on May 20-21, 2014.
Other finalists include:
Canada- English – Alice Eats, Pierre Lamielle
Canada – French - Mandarine et Kiwi, Laila Heloua, Nathalie Lapierre
France – L’Allaitement Maternel, Alain Dabadie (Springer-France)
Japan – Alain Ducasse, The Secret Recipe, Hiromi Nagasaki
Spain – Cocina Pop, Mario Suarez, Ricardo Avolo
"We are so happy for all of the students featured in The Pot & The Palette," says Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of GRFA. "To be nominated for this prestigious award goes to show how talented our young people in Louisiana are and it is great that they are getting international recognition at such an early age." (pictured above, students sign their artwork in copies of the cookbook at Barnes & Nobles in the New Orleans area)
In December, Gourmand informed GRFA that the cookbook had won Best Illustrated in America and in January Gourmand announced that our cookbook was one of seven finalists for Best Illustrated worldwide.
Gourmand has conducted an international cookbook awards ceremony since 1997 and according to Gourmand:
The Awards Ceremonies will be the most glamorous ever, organized with the studios who helped the Opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games 2008. Beijing Cookbook Fair will take place May 19 – 22, 2014, with tourism options before and after the professional book fair.
The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are often compared by journalists to the "Oscars". We believe that we are inspired by the Olympic Spirit, which will show in Beijing.
The Pot & The Palette by George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) and the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) features 100 recipes by Louisiana's greatest restaurants with 50 illustrations by Louisiana's most talented student artists. In 2013, GRFA and LRAEF teamed up to create a statewide art contest for Louisiana junior and senior high school students using the theme "Louisiana's Culinary Heritage" and winners shared in $45,000 of college scholarships.
Each year, we award $45,000 in college scholarships and awards to Louisiana high school juniors and seniors. For our 2014 Art Contest our theme is "Louisiana's Natural Beauty" and our partner is Audubon Nature Institute.
Over the next few weeks, we will suggest various Louisiana animals and plants that students may want to use in their artwork entries. Deadline for the contest is February 12, 2014. Click here to learn how to enter.
Scientific name: Quercus
virginiana
The Southern Live Oak trees are found across the coastal, southeast
United States. Known for their iconic beauty and providing ample shade, these semi-evergreen
trees can live to be more than 500 years old reaching heights of more than 60
feet and spanning more than 80 feet across (pictured above, Blue Dog Oak, a lithograph by George Rodrigue, pictured below, George Rodrigue photographs the Youngsville Oak).
The shallow, wide root base,
expansive canopy and hearty nature of this native species make live oaks strong
enough to survive hurricane winds. In South Louisiana, the restoration of Oak
Chenieres is crucial to providing natural storm barrier and preventing coastal
erosion (pictured, The Youngsville Oak, a print by George Rodrigue that raised money to save a live oak tree in Youngsville, LA).
We hope you will considering painting, photograhing or drawing the Louisiana Live Oak in your art contest entry. Click here to learn how to enter.
Each year, we award $45,000 in college scholarships and awards to Louisiana high school juniors and seniors. For our 2014 Art Contest our theme is "Louisiana's Natural Beauty" and our partner is Audubon Nature Institute. Over the next few weeks, we will suggest various Louisiana animals and plants that students may want to use in their artwork entries. Deadline for the contest is February 12, 2014. Click here to learn how to enter.
Scientific Name:Ursus americanus
luteolus
Black bears are large, bulky mammals with
long black hair and a short, hairy tail. The Louisiana black bear
is different from other black bears because its skull is longer, more narrow
and flatter than other black bears and its molar teeth are larger. (pictured, Tee Teddie1995/2013 Acrylic on canvas by George Rodrigue 48x36 inches)
Although weight varies considerably, large
males may can weigh as much as 6OO pounds and the body length of adult
Louisiana Black bears ranges from 4 to 7 feet. While black bears are able
to stand and walk on their hind legs, they usually stand or walk on all four
legs.
Louisiana Black bears typically inhabit bottom-land hardwood forest
but also utilize other types of forested habitats including brackish and
freshwater marshes, salt domes and wetlands. The Louisiana Black bears
eat acorns, berries, grass, honey, crawfish and fish. They are shy and
secretive animals and avoid contact with humans.
We hope you will considering painting, photograhing or drawing the Louisiana Black Bear in your art contest entry. Click here to learn how to enter.
Each year, we award $45,000 in college scholarships and awards to Louisiana high school juniors and seniors. For our 2014 Art Contest our theme is "Louisiana's Natural Beauty" and our partner is Audubon Nature Institute. Over the next few weeks, we will suggest various Louisiana animals and plants that students may want to use in their artwork entries. Deadline for the contest is February 12, 2014. Click here to learn how to enter.
Scientific Name: Grus americana
Only two species of cranes occur in North America. Today, sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are prevalent. Whooping cranes (Grus americana) suffered severe population decline, and by 1944 only 21 could be counted, with the species continued persistence in peril. Whooping cranes were added to federal endangered species status on March 11, 1967. As of Jan. 31, 2011 approximately 565 individuals survive (Stehn, 2011). (pictured below, Morning Heron by Christopher Stafford, not a Whooping Crane but the heron is often confused for the whoooper and this entry won a $1,000 scholarship in our 2010 art contest)
It is the tallest North American bird at 5 feet. Adults are mostly white with a red head crown and a long, dark, pointed bill. They have long dark legs which trail behind in flight and a long neck that is kept straight in flight. Black wing tips can also be seen in flight. Immature birds are pale brown. These birds forage while walking in shallow water or in fields, often probing with their bills. They are omnivorous, eating insects, aquatic plants and animals, crustaceans, seeds, and berries.
This species' name comes from its whooping call. The whooping crane is endangered mainly as a result of habitat loss and illegal take. Southwest Louisiana was once important wintering range for migrant whooping cranes and until the mid-twentieth century, the site of the only resident nesting colony in the U.S., but they were absent for over 60 years.
Due to their historical presence in Louisiana, in Feb. 2011 the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries re-established a resident population at White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area, located in Vermilion Parish.
We hope you will considering painting, photograhing or drawing the Whooping Crane in your art contest entry. Click here to learn how to enter.
Each year, we award $45,000 in college scholarships and awards to Louisiana high school juniors and seniors. For our 2014 Art Contest our theme is "Louisiana's Natural Beauty" and our partner is Audubon Nature Institute. Over the next few weeks, we will suggest various Louisiana animals and plants that students may want to use in their artwork entries. Deadline for the contest is February 12, 2014. Click here to learn how to enter.
Scientific Name: Alligator mississippiensis
American Alligator’s are located throughout southern United States and Central America. Their entire body is covered with large, strong, ossified, horny plates. An alligator’s tail, which accounts for half of the alligator’s total length, is used for aquatic propulsion. (pictured, Blue Dog and Cajuns on the River by George Rodrigue).
The tail can also be used as a weapon of defense if the alligator feels threatened. American Alligators can weigh as much as 750 pounds and mostly feed on insects, crawfish, snails, and fish. They have 80 teeth though alligators do not chew food, they just swallow it.
Alligators live in wetlands, which is a vital habitat that holds the key to their continued long-term survival. Only two countries on earth have alligators: the United States and China. The Chinese alligator is endangered. In the 1970s, the American Alligator was listed as endangered, but the population recovered due to successful conservation efforts and regulations from the state and federal government.
We hope you will considering painting, photograhing or drawing the American Alligator in your art contest entry. Click here to learn how to enter.
In celebration of the release of our "The Pot & The Palette Cookbook," enter for your chance to win one of over twenty (20) prizes!
GRAND PRIZE
George Rodrigue has opened up his personal archives to offer "Heat in the Kitchen" (a now SOLD OUT Blue Dog print not available in any gallery, 25x38 inches).
As a special treat, the print is signed by George Rodrigue, Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali plus 40+ chefs featured in The Pot & The Palette Cookbook! (pictured throughout, chefs signing the raffle print)
Thank you to Chef John Besh, Chef Aaron Sanchez of Mestizo, Chef Tory McPhail of Commander's Palace, Chef Susan Spicer of Bayona, Chef Justin Devillier of La Petite Grocery, Chef Phillip Lopez of Root, Chef Tenny Flynn of G.W. Fins, Chef Tariq Hanna of Sucre and Chef Brian Landry of Borgne.
Due to the uniqueness of this item, the value is considered priceless. All proceeds from the raffle benefit the educational programs of George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA).
The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) advocates the importance of the visual arts in the development of our youth.GRFA encourages the use of art within all curriculums and supports a variety of art educational programs.
In Louisiana, The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts will be the local program partner for Turnaround Arts, working directly in schools in New Orleans, Greensburg, and Homer Louisiana. It will be implemented through Louisiana A+ Schools, an initiative of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, which is a research-based whole school program with a mission of nurturing creativity in every learner through an arts-integrated school network. Schools selected for the Turnaround Arts: the Louisiana program includes Homer. A Plessy Community School in New Orleans, St. Helena Arts and Technology Academy in Greensburg, and Homer Elementary School in Homer. Selected schools will receive arts education training and resources to address their individual needs. Resources include arts supplies, music instruments, teacher training, and funding for partnerships with community arts education and cultural organizations. High-profile artists will also “adopt” Turnaround Arts schools for the length of the program, working with students, schools and communities to highlight their success. 
